Iowa Lakes Community College Infinity Scholars Project

项目摘要爱荷华州湖泊社区学院的无限学者计划旨在将不同的STEM学生群体团结起来，为成功过渡到大学或劳动力做好学术准备。每年，多达30名奖学金获得者将参加职业探索会议、本科生研究和顶峰活动，活动内容包括参与者研究、专业投资组合开发、爱荷华州科学院会员资格和STEM探索之旅。此外，计划开展教师指导和队列研究表活动，以提高学生对学位成就的留存率。在毕业时，爱荷华湖无限奖学金获得者已经做好了充分的准备，将成为国家需要的技术领域的领导者和创新者。智力优势：该项目建立在爱荷华湖第一个S-STEM项目的基础上，在该项目中，144名参与者的平均GPA为3.5，远远高于大学平均水平2.76。经验丰富的首席调查员计划通过增加更密集的职业探索、参与以目标为重点的队列和专业网络来扩大这一成功。Infinity奖学金项目的成功将根据项目数据库中符合条件的、非参与者的爱荷华湖和STEM学位项目的学生基线数据进行衡量。更广泛的影响：无限学者计划旨在通过参与者旅行、专业网络和本科生研究机会来促进学习和发现。爱荷华湖被指定为西北爱荷华州STEM中心是为了让项目信息迅速传播给整个地区和全州的天才学生，并将成为从代表性不足的群体中招募个人的有效手段。

PROJECT ABSTRACTIowa Lakes Community College's Infinity Scholars program is designed to unify a diverse group of talented STEM students with academic preparation for a successful transition to a university or the workforce. Each year, up to 30 scholarship recipients are to engage in career exploration conferences, undergraduate research with a capstone event featuring participant research, professional portfolio development, membership in the Iowa Academy of Science, and a STEM Exploration Trip. Additionally, faculty mentoring and cohort study table activities are planned to increase student retention to degree achievement. At graduation, Iowa Lakes' Infinity Scholars are well-prepared to become leaders and innovators in technical areas of national need. Intellectual Merit: The program builds upon Iowa Lakes' first S-STEM program in which 144 participants maintained an average GPA of 3.50, well above the college average of 2.76. Experienced Principal Investigators plan to expand this success through the addition of more intensive career exploration, participation in goal-focused cohorts, and professional networking. The Infinity Scholars program success is to be measured against eligible, non-participant student baseline data for Iowa Lakes and STEM degree programs in a project database. Broader Impacts: The Infinity Scholars program is to advance learning and discovery through participant travel, professional networking, and opportunities for undergraduate research. Iowa Lakes' designation as the Northwest Iowa STEM Hub is to allow program information to be quickly disseminated to gifted students throughout the region and the state, and will be an effective means for recruiting individuals from underrepresented groups.